Apparatus for use in moi



E. L. HOWE.

APPARATUS FOR USE I N MOLDING. APPLICATION FILED JULY I6, 1919.

1 ,3 1 9,869 Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

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Patented Oct. 28, M9.

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EUGENE L. HOWE, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN MOLDING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

Application filed July 16, 1919. Serial No. 311,354.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE L. HOWE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Molding; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in foundries. In large foundries, it is a common practice to begin at one end of the foundry and fill the space of the floor of the foundry with completed molds, the pouring of the melted metal into the molds taking place when the floor is wholly or nearly filled with the molds. The flasks in which the molds are made should have a firm base on which to rest when the mold is being made. In foundries, the dirt floor is usually uneven, more or less covered with sand and it is not practical to keep continually leveling off a new space for the flasks as the foundry fills up with the molds, and if this is done a considerable loss of time takes place with consequent higher cost of moldmg.

My invention relates to an apparatus which is mounted to move lengthwise of the foundry and which may be readily moved whenever desired to a new position, the same including a table on which the flasks may be placed while the mold is being made, and from which they may be removed after making and placed on the foundry floor for pouring. The table is also provided with means for holding it steady and secure in any position to which it may be moved, irrespective of the character of the floor, and with the table level or substantially so for the carrying of the flasks. With this construction, the foundry may be filled with the molds and the apparatus moved whenever necessary, there always being a solid, level and smooth table on which to place the flasks.

My invention has for its object and purpose the provision of an apparatus serving the ends outlined, together with many others not specifically stated at this point but which will appear fully and in detail as understandin of the invention is had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a front elevation of the apparatus, one of the upper carrying tracks being removed and one end of the table and support therefor being in section.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof, parts being shown in vertical section,'and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation showing the table adjusted to a higher elevation than shown in Fig. 2.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diflerent figures of the drawmgs.

In construction, a carriage 1 is provided, from which a relatively large cylindrical post 2 depends, its lower end terminating a distance above the floor and having a collar 3 attached which serves as a stop to limit the lowering of the table on the post below a predetermined position. The carriage has arms 4, one at each end extending upwardly and eachcarrying a flanged wheel 5 to ride on the lower flange of an I-beam 6 which extends across the foundry, preferably lengthwise thereof. Likewise other arms 7 extend upwardly from the carriage back of the first arms 4 and each carries a flanged roller 8 adapted to ride against the under side of the under flange of a second I-beam 9 paralleling and located back of the first I-beam 6. The carriage described may be made in many different forms, and the one shown is only one of a number which may be used for carrying the post 2 and attached table back and forth to different positions in the foundry.

A table 10 is located in front of the post 2 and has a vertical curved member 11 cast integral therewith at its rear side adapted to fit against the post, from which table lower and upper pairs of arms 12 and 13 pass around the post, being equipped with clamping devices 14 for securing the table in fixed position on the post.

At each end of the table a clamping collar 15 is cast integral with the table and in each of which a cylinder 16 is mounted in vertical position. The collars may be clamped to the cylinders by means of screws 17. A piston 18 is located in each cylinder and a rod 19 is attached at its upper end to each piston, extending downwardly through the bottom end of the cylinder and formed with a ball 20 at its lower end which is seated in a suitable socket the upper side of a foot member 21. The piston and attached parts are normally elevated by a spring 22 located within the cylinder between its bottom side and the under side of the piston. Each cylinder may be closed at its upper end by a plug 16.

The pistons are adapted to be forced downwardly against the force of the springs 22 by compressed air entered into the cylinders above the pistons. The air is carried from any suitable tank through a hose 2'3to a pipe 24 in which a valve 25 is placed. Two branch pipes 26 lead from the end of the pipe 24 to the upper ends of the cylinders as shown.

The cylinders 16 may be adjusted to any desired position by loosening screws 17 and afterward tightening the same. By loosening the clamping devices at 14 and turning the valve 25 to permit the entrance of air into the cylinders, the table may be raised to any desired position, or it may be lowered by allowing the air to escape. The valve at 25 may be any suitable three way valve for either turning the air on or allowing it to escape. When the table is clamped to the post 2 and the air is allowed to escape from the cylinders, the rods 19 and attached foot members 21 are raised by the springs 22 and the table and carriage carrying the same may 'be moved along the tracks 6 and 9 to a new position, whereupon the air is again entered into the cylinders, this forcing the foot members down until they are pressed firmly against the floor. The table is thus held firmly and in stable condition so that flasks may be placed thereon and molds made therein. When a mold is completed, the flask is removed and the process repeated with other flasks and molds until the adjacent space in the foundry is filled, whereupon the apparatus is moved to another position, the operation of raising the steadying foot members by releasing the air from the cylinders, and of forcing them down by turning the air into-the cylinders being done as previously described.

This apparatus is of value in foundries and is a time and labor saver, reducing the manufacturing cost of castings. The various adjustments for the height of the table make it possible to place the table at any desired position to suit the molder. The operation of the apparatus is simple and is easily performed. The construction may be varied in details of construction and I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction shown, but consider myself entitled to all modifications in construction falling within the scope of the appended claims defining the invention,

I claim:

1. In combination, a carriage, means for movably mounting the carriage, a table carried by the carriage, means connected to the table and adapted to be forced into firm engagement with the floor below the table, and means for forcing said means into such engagement to thereby stabilize the table, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a horizontally positioned table, means for moving the table back and forth over the floor below the table, means connected to the table and adapted to be forced into firm engagement with the floor, and means for forcing said means into such engagement with the floor, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a carriage, means for movably suspending the carriage whereby the same may be moved back and forth, a table connected to the carriage, a foot member mounted at each end of the table, means normally elevating said foot members, and means to force the foot members downwardly' into engagement with the floor below the table, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a movably mounted carriage, a table connected to the carriage, foot members attached to the table at separated points, means normally elevating the foot members, and means to force the foot members downwardly into engagement with the floor below the table, substantially as described.

5. In combination, a carriage, tracks above the carriage, wheels on the carriage engaging with the tracks, a table attached to the carriage, vertical cylinders connected to the table at separated points, a piston in each cylinder, spring means normally tending to elevate each piston, a rod attached to each piston and extending below its associated cylinder, and a foot member connected to the lower end of therod, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a table, means for mounting the same to move back and forth over a floor below the table, cylinders connected to the table at separated points, a piston in each cylinder, a rod attached to each piston and extending downwardly through the lower end of the cylinder, a foot member attached to the lower end of each rod, spring means normally tending to elevate each piston and attached rod and foot member, and means for forcing each piston downwardly against the said spring means, substantially as described.

7 In combination, a table, means for mounting the same to move back and forth over a floor belowthe table, and means mounted on the table and operable to en'- gage against the floor to hold the table firmly against movement, substantially as described.

8. In combination, a table, means for mounting the same to move back and forth over a floor below the table, cylinders connected to the table at separated points, a

piston in each cylinder, a rod attached to each piston and extending below its associated-cylinder, and means for simultaneously entering air into the cylinders above the pistons therein.

9. In combination, supporting tracks, a carriage suspended from the tracks and movable lengthwise thereof, a post depending from the carriage, a table adjustably connected to the post and adapted to be raised or lowered thereon, means attached at a plurality of points on the table adapted to be forced into engagement with a floor below the table to thereby hold the table against movement, means for forcing said means downwardly into such engagement with the floor, and means for elevating said means, substantially as described.

10. In combination, a carriage, a table adjustably attached thereto and adapted to be raised or lowered with respect to the carriage, means for mounting the carriage to move back and forth, and means on the table for engaging the floor below the table to hold it and the carriage againstmovement, substantially as described.

11. In combination, a table, means on which the table is mounted for carrying it to different locations, a cylinder positioned vertically at each end of the table, means for adjustably connecting the cylinders to the table, a piston in each cylinder, a rod connected to each piston and extending through the lower end of and below the cylinder, means for elevating each piston, a foot member attached to the lower end of each rod, and means for entering compressed air into the upper end of each cylinder above the piston therein.

12. In combination, tracks, a carriage mounted to move lengthwise of the tracks and depending below the same, a cylindrical vertical post depending from the carriage, a table located in front of the post, means at the rear side of the table engaging with the post and for clamping the table to the post, said means being releasable to permit adjustment of the table up: or down with respect to the post, a vertical cylinder located at each end of the table, means for clamping the cylinders to the table, said means being releasable for changing the position of the cylinders with respect to the table, a piston in each cylinder, a rod attached to each piston and extending below each cylinder, a foot member pivotally attached to the lower end of each rod, a spring around each rod between the piston and the lower end of the cylinder, pipes leading one into the upper end of each cylinder, and means for entering compressed air into the cylinders through said pipes.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EUGENE L. HOWE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

